MARINO FALIERO Persuasive Essay Example For Students

MARINO FALIERO Persuasive Essay A monologue from the play by Lord Byron NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Lord Byron: Six Plays. Lord Byron. Los Angeles: Black Box Press, 2007. DOGE: You see me here,As one of you hath said, an old, unarmed,Defenceless man; and yesterday you saw mePresiding in the hall of ducal state,Apparent Sovereign of our hundred isles,Robed in official purple, dealing outThe edicts of a power which is not mine,Nor yours, but of our masters—the patricians.Why I was there you know, or think you know;Why I am here, he who hath been most wronged,He who among you hath been most insulted,Outraged and trodden on, until he doubtIf he be worm or no, may answer for me,Asking of his own heart what brought him here?You know my recent story, all men know it,And judge of it far differently from thoseWho sate in judgement to heap scorn on scorn.But spare me the recital—it is here,Here at my heart the outrage—but my words,Already spent in unavailing plaints,Would only show my feebleness the more,And I come here to strengthen even the strong,And urge them on to deeds, and not to warWith womans weapons; but I need not urge you.Our pr ivate wrongs have sprung from public vices,In this—I cannot call it commonwealth,Nor kingdom, which hath neither prince nor people,But all the sins of the old Spartan stateWithout its virtues—temperance and valour.The Lords of Laced?mon were true soldiers,But ours are Sybarites, while we are Helots,Of whom I am the lowest, most enslaved;Although dressed out to head a pageant, asThe Greeks of yore made drunk their slaves to formA pastime for their children. You are metTo overthrow this Monster of a state,This mockery of a Government, this spectre,Which must be exorcised with blood,—and thenWe will renew the times of Truth and Justice,Condensing in a fair free commonwealthNot rash equality but equal rights,Proportioned like the columns to the temple,Giving and taking strength reciprocal,And making firm the whole with grace and beauty,So that no part could be removed withoutInfringement of the general symmetry.In operating this great change, I claimTo be one of you —if you trust in me;If not, strike home,—my life is compromised,And I would rather fall by freemens handsThan live another day to act the tyrantAs delegate of tyrants: such I am not,And never have been—read it in our annals;I can appeal to my past governmentIn many lands and cities; they can tell youIf I were an oppressor, or a manFeeling and thinking for my fellow men.Haply had I been what the Senate sought,A thing of robes and trinkets, dizened outTo sit in state as for a Sovereigns picture;A popular scourge, a ready sentence-signer,A stickler for the Senate and the Forty,A sceptic of all measures which had notThe sanction of the Ten, a council-fawner,A tool—a fool—a puppet,—they had neerFostered the wretch who stung me. What I sufferHas reached me through my pity for the people;That many know, and they who know not yetWill one day learn: meantime I do devote,Whateer the issue, my last days of life—My present power such as it is, no t thatOf Doge, but of a man who has been greatBefore he was degraded to a Doge,And still has individual means and mind;I stake my fame (and I had fame)—my breath—(The least of all, for its last hours are nigh)My heart—my hope—my soul—upon this cast!Such as I am, I offer me to youAnd to your chiefs; accept me or reject me,—A Prince who fain would be a CitizenOr nothing, and who has left his throne to be so. .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 , .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .postImageUrl , .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 , .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:hover , .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:visited , .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:active { border:0!important; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:active , .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50 .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u32112a9f105b3e9671b50b96562efa50:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poem Of The Cid Cultural Heroism Essay